Indians lock down win with defensive stand, beat Red Raiders 8-6

Unionville left fielder Haley Miller made three great plays in Monday's win

EAST MARLBOROUGH—If there is one facet of the game that Unionville head coach Janelle Hadly has spent countless hours this spring trying to stress the importance of to her young Indians squad, it is that defense wins games!

On Monday afternoon, much to the delight of their enthusiastic coach, Unionville showed that the message has been received loud and clear, as stellar play in the field by the entire infield and more specifically by freshman Madi Ross at the “hot corner”, fueled an 8-6 Ches-Mont League win over hard hitting Coatesville.

“I have said all along that we have to make plays and knew we were capable of it, as we have some very talented fielders,” said Hadly. “We have very good pitching but they are not going to over power any one, for us to win games like this against good teams we have to make plays and today we stepped up as a team.”

In a game that featured 26 hits and one only one strike out recorded by both teams combined, the Indians (3-2) got on the board first by rapping out six singles in the third inning posting the hosts to a 6-0 advantage for senior pitcher Colleen Beckman, who was able to keep one step ahead of the Red Raiders all day with her rise ball and screwball.

“I was able to keep it inside in some big at bats especially in the seventh inning and they popped it up,” said senior Colleen Beckman, who his playing under her third coach in three years. “I usually use my curve more but today I didn’t have a good one so I stuck with my rise and screw.”

Indians senior Colleen Beckman kept hitters off balance all day in an 8-6 win

Beckman may not have been laying the Coatesville bats to waste with her stuff, but she, along with her flawless defense behind her, was able to stifle the Red Raiders when she needed to, as the Indians overcame two doubles, two triples and a home run to emerge with the win.

After being shut out in their first four at bats, Coatesville (2-4) knocked the goose eggs off the scoreboard in a big way as Corrine Byerly launched a bomb that cleared the wall in centerfield in a hurry to lead off the fifth.

Byerly’s blast was followed up by a triple from Sara Henry (3-for-3, run scored), who would later in the inning be tagged out at the plate, and consecutive singles by Brittany Troband (3-for-4, 2 runs scored), Jackie Walsh and Mersie Waters which would post two additional runs, cutting the lead to 6-3.

After two consecutive three up three down innings, Unionville, who did not record an extra base hit in the entire game, added two insurance runs in the home sixth with base hits by Mandy Hammond (3-for-4, 2 runs), Colleen Hoge (1-for-3, 2 runs) and Amy Large (2-for-3, run, RBI).

“If we play well defensively we can stay in any game,” added Hanly. “Our theme all year has been that we play one game at time and we pick up each game where we left off the last. There is no doubt that we are going to work hard and today showed how important it is to keep working and get those extra runs when you can.

Leading by five as the entered the seventh inning, Unionville found them selves looking at the tying run on second base following a lead off double by Henry and single by Troband, who both scored when Lara Cochran, who later scored on a single by Natalie Weaver, smoked a triple into the gap in right centerfield.

Indians senior Beckman again was again up to the task as she forced two pop outs with an inside fastball and a screw ball to preserve the win for Unionville, stranding Weaver just 120 feet away, representing the tying run.

“The atmosphere this season has been awesome, I couldn’t ask for a better start to my senior season, this was a big win for us today,” said Beckman. “My defense was unbelievable today, they (Coatesville) never seemed to adjust to my screw ball and I was able to jam them a bit.”

Next up for Unionville is a Ches-Mont league match up as it hosts Octorara on Wednesday at 3:45 pm, while the Red Raiders will travel to Downingtown West at 3:45pm on Wednesday.